A public interest plea was filed in the Hyderabad High Court on Friday, by a city-based advocate, which demanded that officials should be held responsible and a heavy penalty should be imposed, on those who don't cover defunct borewells.
The Times of India reported that B Prakash, a practising HC advocate, filed the plea and contended that directions given by the Supreme Court were being ignored.
“Toddlers falling in such borewells and meeting a horrifying death is a tragedy the society at large is finding it difficult to cope with...People are supposed to obtain prior permission before digging a borewell. But the rule is violated. Making matters worse, they fail to cover borewells if they do not yield water.This is a sure invitation to death for innocent children," TOI quoted him as saying.
The plea was filed, days after 18-month-old Chinnari died in the bowels of an open borewell in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district.
Prakash urged the court to issue directions to the state government, to obtain district-wise data of defunct borewells, and ensure that they are closed, to prevent such further incidents.
Chinnari fell into the 450-ft deep borewell last Thursday, while playing with her elder sister and other children in Chenvel village, about 55km from Hyderabad.
After a rescue operation that lasted for three days, the 18-month-old baby was found dead at a depth of 180 feet.
Rescue workers pulled out her body early on Sunday, dashing the hopes of her parents, relatives and hundreds of people who had been waiting at the site, fervently praying for her safety.
Following this, the state police arrested Malla Reddy, whose family owns the land on which the uncapped borewell sits. However, within hours of being arrested, Reddy secured bail.